Carburetor for triturated coal



Sept. 12, 1950 Filed Jan. 5 1944 w. c. WILLIAMS CARBURETOR FOR TRITURATED COAL 4 Shee ts-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

Sept. 12, 1950 w.. c. WILLIAMS mmxaummroxz FOR TRITURATED com.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1944 Sept. 12, 1950' w. c. WILLIAMS 3 CARBURETOR FOR TRITURATED COAL Fi'led Jan. 5, 1944 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet s Sept. 12, 1950 W' C. WILLIAMS CARBURETOR FOR TRITURATED COAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1944 FHHHH mun ' INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARBURETOR FOR TRITURATED COAL Wister C. Williams, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application January 5, 1944, Serial No. 517,055 In Canada January 26, 1943 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for feeding predetermined quantities of triturated fuel into a stream of combustion air in which the fuel is carried in suspension to a furnace.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide improved constructions for insuring a constant and uniform feed of the fuel into a regulatable air stream. In this connection the invention contemplates the provision of positive means for overcoming the tendency which fuel of this character has, even when dry, to pack in a storage tank or to arch across the feed opening therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus in which the triturated fuel and its path of movement is enclosed at all times and thereby prevent any portion of this finely divided fuel from escaping into the outside atmosphere.

Another object of th invention is to provide in an apparatus of the above character new and improved constructions and arrangements of the associated parts and devices for delivering the fuel to the furnace whereby all fuel delivered into the stream of combustion air will be delivered to the furnace and thereby avoid any tendency for the particles of fuel escaping from the air current and settling in the air pipe in a manner to partially block the air passage.

In this connection, the invention contemplates the provision of certain means for operating the fuel feed mechanism and fuel delivery mechanism, together with their individual controls.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detail descriptions of the several embodiments of the invention shown in the accompaning drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of one preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on line 2-2 .of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views. on a somewhat larger scale, on lines 4-t and 55, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the base portion of the machine shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but indicating one preferred modification in the manner of operating the feeding and delivering mechanisms.

Fig. '7 is a sectional plan view illustrating certain parts of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, but illustrating a further modified arrangement of the fuel feeding and delivering mechanisms, together with a diagrammatic illustration of one conventional form of control mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in section of the fuel feeding and delivery mechanism shown in Fig. '7.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings, the fuel feed and delivery apparatus includes a base support on adjustable legs Ill so that the height of the base can be adjusted to suit the height of the delivery pipe ll leading into the furnace 12. The said base is made preferably of three parts, including a lower box-like casting 53, a ring member I l, and a closure cap or ring [5. The said ring I5 is formed with an upwardly extending flange 16 which engages and supports the lower end of a fuel storage tank IT. The said ring [5 is provided also with a depending flange l8 which extends downwardly to close relation with the top surface of a rotatable table IS. The said table is provided with a centrally disposed conical structure 20 which, tog-ether with the flanges l6 and H8, define a circular space 2! adapted to be filled with fuel from the tank H. The member 20 may be formed either integrally with the said table 19 or separate therefrom. In the latter case it may be secured to the table in any suitable manner in a position concentric with the flanges l6 and I8. The conical upper end of the member 20 preferably extends upwardly to the widest portion of the storage tanlr II and is provided on its outer surface with upwardly extending blade members 22 for agitating the triturated fuel to prevent arching of the fuel across the supply passage leading to the table I9. The said blade members preferably extend upwardly into the widest portion of the storage tank I! and incline in the direction of movement of the table. The depending flange I8 0f the ring IE, it will be noted, in addition to defining the fuel space 2|, also defines an outer concentric space 23 intervening between the said flange l8 and the outer wall of the ring [4. It is desirable to prevent the finely pulverized fuel particlesfrom passing beneath the flange 18 into the outer concentric space 23 except at the discharge opening hereinafter described. Therefore, the lower end of the flange It extends relatively close to the top surface of table l9 and a felt sealing strip 24 is positioned on the inside of the flange l8 and held in place by a retaining ring 25 so that the lower edge of the sealing strip is held firmly against the top surface of the rotating table.

The table is rotated preferably by the following mechanism:

A vertical shaft 26 extends from the hub portion of the table through suitable bearin s 2! and 28. On the said vertical shaft is provided a worm gear 29 which meshes with a worm 30 mounted on a motor shaft 3!. The shaft 3i extends across the base member I3 so as to connect the motor 32 not only with the worm and worm gear previously mentioned but also with the rotating member 33 of a blower 45 located at the opposite side of the base member I3.

It will be seen, therefore, that the table I9 is rotated at a predetermined speed in relation to the speed of the blower fan 33.

The fuel in the space 2| is discharged into the outer space 23 through a hinged deflector 34. The said valve is preferably formed along its upper edge with a horizontally disposed flange 35, the upper face of which bears against a portion of the sealing strip 24 so as to seal the space above the valve. The said horizontal flange of the valve is connected to an adjusting screw 32 which may be rotated by a hand wheel 31. The hinged deflector 34 may be moved inwardly so as to discharge a greater volume of fuel from the inner ring 2| or moved outwardly so as to reduce the volume of feed, as may be desired. The fuel, which is deflected out of the space 2! by the hinged deflector 34, is caused by the rotation of table I9 to follow the course indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. A fixed scraper 39, secured to the ring member I4 and positioned edgewise against the top surface of the rotating table, deflects the stream of fuel into the air passage 39 leading from the base to a blower 49.

The amount of air admitted into space 39 may be controlled by means of a slide shutter 4! for varying the effective area of the draft openings 42. The fuel discharged from the table I9 into the air space 39 is carried by the air admitted through draft openings 42 into the blower and is then carried in suspension through the delivery pipe I I into the furnace I2.

When the distance from the blower to the furnace is relatively short the stream of air passing through the blower will have sumcient force, after the motor has been shut off to carry all discharged material into the furnace. However, in situations where the furnace is a substantial distance from the carburetor apparatus it is desirable to operate the blower 40 with an independently energized motor 43 so as to insure delivery of all fuel in suspension to the furnace. In situations of this character I preferably mount a separately energized motor 43 on the outer face of the blower 4E! and at the same time shorten the length of the shaft 3! in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. When two motors 3243 are employed the motor 43 is preferably so controlled that it will start a few seconds in advance of the motor 32 for operating the table I9. The said motor 43 is also preferably operated a few seconds after the motor 32 and the table l9 have ceased operation. In this way the prolonged operation of the motor 43 and blower 40 insures delivery to the furnace of all powdered fuel discharged from the table I9. In other respects the construction and operation of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 may be and preferably is the same as that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a further modification in which the various parts preferably correspond to the disclosure of Fig. 6 except that the blower designated 411 and the motor designated 43* are positioned at a location intermediate but remote from the fuel feeding mechanism and a furnace I2 In this embodiment an air pipe 44 connects the inlet air space 39 with the inlet side of the blower 49 The mixture of fuel and combustion air pases from the pipe 44 through the blower 411 and is delivered through another pipe 45 into the furnace I2 A conventional circuit for controlling the motors 32 and 43 or 32 and 43*, as the case may be, is illustrated in Fig. '7. This circuit includes wire 45 leading'from one terminal of the battery 41 to an inlet connection 48 of a room thermostat 49 of the mercury column type. An electric conductor composed of wire 50, switch 5| and wire 52 leads from an upper contact of the thermostat to a solenoid coil 53. A wire 52 leads from the solenoid coil 53 to the other terminal of the battery 41. It will be seen therefore that when the switch 5i is closed the solenoid coil 53 will be energized when the mercury column rises above the contact and that the solenoid will be de-energized when the mercury column of the thermostat drops below said point 50. The core 54 of the solenoid is provided with a rod 55 extending into a two-way dash pct 56. A switch device 51 is pivoted at 58 and is provided with an arm 59 which is drawn downwardly when the solenoid is energized and is moved upwardly by the spring 5!] of the dash pot when the solenoid is de-energized. Both downward and upward movements of the arm are retarded by the action of the dash pot 56, there being a bleed port 6| in the piston of the dash pot to accomplish the above purpose. The pivoted member 51 is provided with two spring arms 62 and 53, the latter of which is substantially longer and is spaced at an angle from the arm 62. It will be seen, therefore, that upward movement of the lever 59 (by spring 60 when the circuit through the solenoid at contact 50 of the thermostat is opened) will bring the end of arm 62 into position to close contacts 64, 65 and thereby establish an electric circuit through wires 66, 6'! and 68 for energizing the motor 43. Continued upward movement of the said switch arm 59 will flex the arm 62 downwardly and also bring the end of arm 63 into position to close contacts 69 and 10, thereby closing a circuit through wires II, I2 and 13 to energize the motor 32. When both pairs of contacts 6465 and 69-10 are closed the motor 32 is operated to rotate the table I9 and thereby discharge powdered fuel into the air passage 39 and the motor 43 is energized to deliver said fuel and air to the furnace IZ Both motors are operated at corresponding speeds so that the feed of fuel is in proper proportion to the volume of combustion air delivered by the blower. When the temperature of the room being heated is sufficient to raise the mercury column of the thermostat to close the circuit atcontact 58 the following circuit is closed: from the battery 4?, wire 46, mercury column of thermostat to contact 50, switch 5|, wire 52, thence through the coil 53 of the solenoid, and returns to the other side of the battery. This energizes the solenoid and draws the arm 59 of the switch mechanism downwardly. The first result of this downward movement is that the arm 63 is raised to break the circuit through motor 32 at contacts 69 and 10. This stops the operation of the rotating table I9 and consequently stops the feed or powdered fuel into air passage 39*. Continued downward movement of the arm 59 moves the flexible arm 62 away from the contacts E l-65 to break the circuit through motor 43 This delayed opening of the circuit through motor l-3 1 about by virtue of the resiliency of arm fi w h i li W111 hold the end thereof engaged with contacts 64 and 65 for one or two seconds after the circuit through motor 32 has been broken. The operatlon of the blower 40 for the brief period after the motor 32 and rotating table have stopped insures dellvery of all fuel which may be suspended 1n the air currents in pipes 69 and 45 to the furnace and therefore prevents any deposit of fuel powder in either of said air pipes I claim:

1. apparatus for mixing triturated fuel and air to form a combustible mixture and for convey ng said mixture to a location remote from the point of mixing comprising, in combination a hollow base structure, a rotatable table en closed in said base structure, a fuel storage vessel open at its bottom and supported on the base above sa d table so that a portion of the fuel therein is supported on and rotates with the table, means defining a fuel receiving passage leading downwardly from the table and opening at its lower end through a side wall of the base structure, means for delivering controlled amounts of fuel into said fuel receiving passage comprising a deflector adjustably movable into the portion of said fuel which rotates with the table, means defining regulatable air inlet ports communicating with said fuel receiving passage whereby the volume of air may be varied in relation to the amount of fuel discharged from said table, a blower communicating with said lower end of said fuel receiving passage for forcing a stream of air therethrough to support the delivered fuel in suspension, a conduit leading from the blower for delivering said combustible mixture of fuel and air to said remote location, means comprising separately operable electric motors for opei ating said table and said blower in timed sequence relative to each other, and control means for the motors including a circuit closing an element movable in a direction for closing an energizing circuit through the blower 6 sli htl before the table operating motor g fi rgifiad ind movable in the opposite (113628; tion to deenergize the table operating moed slightly before the blower motor is deenergiirii 2. In apparatus for mixing and conveying ixturated fuel in the form of a combustlble m en ture, a base member, a fuel storage vesse op at the bottom and supported on said base member, a rotatable table enclosed in said base rfnenii her and. extending across the open bottom o sa a fuel storage vessel, a closed conduit having t fuel inlet beneath the said table ad acent 1 sfcui; er edge, a blower for moving a stream iJo aa through said conduit, means for direc mgoss stream of fuel from said storage vessel acg t said table and into the fuel inlet of said con a motor for operating said table, a motor 0 operating said blower, and control meanls1 eluding a relay for closing a circuit throng of blower motor in advance of the eneigizaion d the table operating motor and to maintaintsir circuit closed for a short geriod ggte? the a e een eerie Opel atmg motor has WISTER C. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 635,112 Wheildon Oct. 17, 1899 784,281 Schacht Mar. 7, 1906 1,132,715 Greenstreet Mar. 23, 1915 1,206,112 Holbeck Nov. 28, 1916 1,210,636 Garst Jan. 2, 1917 1,390,271 Booth Sept. 13, 1921 1,419,730 Gentine June 13, 1922 1,541,087 Whitaker June 9, 1925 1,658,401 Thomas Feb, 7, 1928 1,725,226 Taylor Aug. 20, 1929 1,731,515 Andrews Oct. 15, 1929 1,890,925 Allington Dec. 13, 1932 1,915,750 Nease June 27, 1933 2,102,619 Francis Dec. 21, 1937 2,102,948 Francis Dec. 21, 1937 

